Chism, Olive Louise

November 08, 1998

CHISM, Olive Louise

Olive Louise Chism of ''Olive's Brow``, Patsun Road, Somersville, in her 80th year, died Wednesday (Nov. 4, 1998) at Johnson Memorial Hospital. The daughter of the late Frank E. and Blanche E. (Warren) Chism, she was born in Putnam, Jan. 4, 1919 and lost her mother a few days later in the influenza epidemic. She was raised in Somersville by her father's sister, Julia Chism Gowdy, the second wife of Louis A. Gowdy and leaves many Gowdy ''cousins``, as well as cousins Lois Chism of East Longmeadow, MA and Dorothy Gasgoine of Memphis, TN and Dorothy's family. Although she never married, eight children called her ''Grandma Olive``, many others, children of friends, called her Miss Olive, and of course she was Miss Chism to many many former students. She was educated in the Somersville schools and graduated from Stafford High School, and Willimantic State Teacher College (now Eastern Connecticut State University) where she obtained her teacher's degree in elementary education, later she earned her Master's degree. She taught in West Woodstock, Newington and Wethersfield before finally returning to her hometown where she taught many years. At one time she was principal of the two grammar schools, Kibbe Fuller and the Somersville School, but returned to her love, teaching the younger children. After 37 years she retired and was able to take several foreign tours and attended ten Elderhostels with her dear companion, Phyllis Lumb. She was a lifetime member of the Congregational Church of Somersville (at her death she was #1 on the Roll Call), where she sang in the choir many years, was choir director for the children's choir, the President of the Ladies Aid Society and always active on committees. Other organizations that have benefited by her membership were the Allen Bird Club of Springfield MA, the Mass. Audubon Society, the Historical Societies of Enfield and Somers, and Somersville Woman's Club where she was Currently President. For Many years she wrote a folksy column for the Reminder newspaper and later published a book containing a collection of many of those columns entitled ''East of the Sugar Bowl``. Her Cheerfulness and magnetic personality attracted many, many friends, and wherever she went in recent years she was approached by people who were former students, or parents of former students, who were delighted to see her again. A memorial service is scheduled for Sunday, Nov 15, at 3 p.m. at the Somersville Congregational Church, 22 Maple St., Somersville CT. Memorial donations may be made in Olive's name to the Congregational Church of Somersville, 22 Maple Street, Somersville, Ct 06072, the Somers Historical Society, P.O. Box 652, Somers CT 06071, or to the Hole In the Wall Gang Camp, Camp Fund, 555 Long Wharf Dr. New Haven, CT 06511. Somers Funeral Home in charge of arrangements.